144 THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE BY LAND. 



spite of tliis heavy work, the party travelled so 

 industriously, that on the morning of the fourth 

 day they reached the old camp by the lake, where 

 we had spent such an anxious time waiting for 

 Keenamontiayoo. 



On the present occasion also, as it happened, all 

 were frost-bitten in the face, though not very exten- 

 sively, and again were reduced to one day's pro- 

 visions. At every part of the road where the old 

 track was visible, there were the footmarks of the 

 wolverine following it towards the plains. They 

 trembled for the cache, and as they found, day after 

 day, the wolverine had still followed the track, the 

 Hunter, pointing to the footprints, would exclaim, 

 " Kekwaharkess maryartis ! namatagun weeash " 

 (That cursed wolverine again ! we shall not find a 

 bit of meat). 



They quite expected, therefore, to have a hard 

 time of it, for there was but a poor prospect of 

 finding many buffalo, and the only chance would 

 be to make a run for the Fort, which they might 

 reach in three days. However, as the Hunter 

 entered the little wood by the lake, his eyes 

 were rejoiced by the sight of the track of a buffalo. 

 The animal had been going at speed, probably pur- 

 sued by some hunter, and had passed the day before. 

 The party immediately halted by Keenamontiayoo' s 

 order, whilst he went forward to reconnoitre the 

 open prairie. He soon came back with the good 

 news that there were five bulls feeding close by. 



As they were in an open place, difficult of 



